Dental instrument



March 28, 1933. H GREE'NE 1,902,850

DENTAL INSTRUMENT Original Filed March 5, 1931 Patented Mar. 28, 1933 UNITED STATES TE TQFF CE JOHN H. GREENE, F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA DENTAL msrnumnn'r Application filed March s, 1931, Serial No. 520,363. Renewed AugustlB, 1932.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in dental instruments and more particularly to dental instruments for use in conjunction with the filling of cervical cavities.

One object of the invention is to provide a dental instrument composed of a non-metallic and relatively resilient substance. v

Another object of the invention is to provide an instrument of the stated character which is capable of conforming to the contour of various and different teeth and irregularities in the festoon of the gum.

Another object of the invention is to provide an instrument of the type described Figure 1 is a front elevation of the instrument constituting the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the instrument shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view showing the instrument constituting the invention when inserted intermediate the gum and a tooth;

Fig. 4 is a view showing the instrument positioned to raise the gum to permit insertion of filling into a cavity; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view showing the instrument in position for pressing the filling and forming the external contour thereof to conform with the general contour of the tooth.

It is well known in the practice of dental surgery that the use of metal instruments, in conjunction with porcelain or cement fillings for cavities, creates a general tendency for the said filling to becomediscolo ed, and it Will be noted that the instrument con- "posed of anon-metallic resilient substance 1 stituting my invention and herein set forth,

wholly eliminates this undesirable and un- Also, in dental work this type, namely that'in connection with cervical cavities, it is desirable to havethe instrument, when inserted intermediate the gum and a tooth, to remain in thatposition :while the dentist is mixing the necessary cement for the' filling. V

In the past this feature has been entirely impossible, as a result of the excessive weight of the metal instruments; and by providing a suitable non-metallic instrument of th'e-type set forth herein, and which is'substantially light in Weight, the said instrument maysbe .lodgedin the above described operativeposition between the gum and tooth, without likelihood of becoming dislodged therefrom.

Refcrringnow to the drawing, the instrument comprises a tubular body 1, having one side-thereof substantially shorter than .the p diametricallyopposed side as shown by reference numeral 2 in Fig- 2, and havingthat portion of the instrument intermediate the said sides cutaway, as indicated at 3 and fojrmingprojecting end 4 constituting the relatively long side aforementioned. The instrument in" the. present instance is com- 90 such ascelluloid or other equallysuitable material, and it is essential to the operative practicability of the instrument that it should be so constructed. n In using the instrument when filling a cervical cavity, designated as 5, access to which is obstructed by the gum 6, the projecting end 4 of the instrument is festooned to fit the gingival contour of the tooth 7 and is placed intermediate the said gum 6 and the tooth 7 substantially as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing. The said instrument, due to the relatively light Weight thereof Will remain in the above position and the seepage of saliva into the cavity or surrounding surface, While the dentist is preparing the filling material for insertion, is prevented, -as a result of the close contact of the projecting end 4 with the tooth and the simultaneous stretching of the gum tissue therearound. The gum 6 may be lifted to stibsitarltiall}; clear the cavity 5 by movement of the tubu-. lar instrument 1 to a position similar totha't shown in Fig. 4, the said instrument when raised, affording adequate space for the subsequent filling operation.

irrthermore, when the filling has been deposited in the cavity, the instrument is 'iorced on the thicker portion of the toothrso that the peripheryo-fthe tubu-larbod y 1 adfiacentrthe shorter side thereof, impinges the tooth asv'at 9, Fig. 5,'and the tubular resilient form Off the instrument forces the operative end-of the instrument to conform to the sur- LEace *contour of the tooth. The outer surir'a'ceof the filling is thus made to "conform to the general external :contour of the entire tooth and maintains the filling tree iiiromcontact with'saliva until the said filling becomes "set. c

It Will be obvious that 'toi produce this setfeIctive and desirable feature, alt is necessary rthatithe instrument be made of'resilient material and 'be tubular in'shape, and while I have set forth the embodiment 10f any invention, it will ':be' :appa-rentthat certain :detail changes may' be made thereto Without departing rfrom thespirit of the invention.

claim: 1

A dental instrument of th'e type described comprising a tubular body, the said body having one side thereof substantially shorter than a diametrically opposed side and longitudinally and circumferenti'ally resilient. V v 2. .A dental instrument of :the type described comprising a tubular body 'havin-g p a one side thereof i-substanti'ally shorter than a diametrically'opposed side and lo'ngitudina'l- 11y and oi'rcumfe'ren'tially resilient, {the longer of said sides being contoured itoconform to the surface of a tooth and any irregularity in ithe festoonof the gum. I

=3. A d'entalfinstrument of the type described comprising a itubular b'ody, said body having one side thereof substantially shorter than -'a diametrically opposed side and -c'ircumrferentially 'resilien 

